MILF vows to stop recruiting kids in armed conflict

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) formalized an action plan to stop the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. MILF and Unicef officials signed the Action Plan at the office of MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar at Simuay in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao last Thursday. "This is two years in the making between the Unicef and MILF and it was hard work between the two parties that made possible to put together the action plan and this hard work, as well, that will make the difference in the realization of the plan," Unicef representative Vanessa Tobin said at the ceremony. Excerpts of Tobin’s remarks were posted Friday on the MILF website. An article on the UN website said the Action Plan sets concrete and time-bound steps to prevent the recruitment and use of children and to separate any children who may be found among its forces. It also ensures unimpeded access to monitoring teams and provides for children to be reintegrated into civilian life. The action plan occurs within the framework of the monitoring and reporting mechanism established by Security Council Resolution 1612. The MILF initially committed to comply with the recommendations of the Security Council during the visit of the Special Representative to the Philippines in December 2008. The action plan was developed in collaboration with UNICEF and the UN country team. "The signature of the action plan shows that the protection of children is a priority beyond any political or other agenda. It serves as proof positive of the impact of the Security Council’s involvement on this crucial issue. However, compliance will require close follow-up in collaboration with the country team and the continuous support of the international community for the sake of these children," said Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. Tobin said Unicef will put up an office in Cotabato City, adding the Unicef considers the signing of Action Plan with the MILF a big occasion and milestone. She and Sammy Al Mansoor, Chief of Staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), were principal signatories in the action plan. “One thing that everyone in this world in common is safeguarding and protecting the children. The next step is for us to take actions in protecting children that are involved in anyway in armed conflict," Tobin said. Tobin said that at the end of the day, it is the children that will work for the future, for peace and for everyone in the country. For his part, Mansoor expressed gratitude to the United Nations in the Philippines and Unicef for welcoming the MILF to work with them. He said the engagements between the MILF and the UN, particularly concerning the issue of children in armed conflict, augur well to the MILF’s best interests for a better tomorrow, for children with better future, and, more importantly, it is a religious obligation for all Muslims. He assured full cooperation for the action plan, and expressly manifested an appeal to the UN to intervene without letup for the peaceful, political and democratic resolution of the centuries-old conflict in Mindanao and the Bangsamoro problem. In December 2008, the Unicef said the MILF will enter into an action plan with the United Nations to stop the recruitment and use of children and ensure that they are separated from their ranks and return to civilian life. - GMANews.TV